JAKARTA - The Ministry of Human Rights stated that protection for Indonesian citizens, including journalists detained in Israel, was carried out through diplomatic channels and international mechanisms.
The Minister of Human Rights, Natalius Pigai, said the government had expressed its condemnation through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and activated international instruments to protect Indonesian citizens.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has begun coordinating with diplomatic channels. The problem is, the Ministry of Human Rights cannot immediately enter Israel because there is no diplomatic relationship," said Pigai as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 20.
According to him, the Ministry of Human Rights coordinates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which is the spearhead of international diplomacy in efforts to protect citizens.
"We are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is on the front line to mobilize international instruments, and it is already working," he said.
Pigai explained that communication with the United Nations (UN) was also carried out through the government's one-stop mechanism so that diplomatic steps remained coordinated.
"Yes, we go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We are one door," said Pigai.
In addition to the diplomatic channel, the government utilizes Indonesia's position in the UN Human Rights Council to strengthen protection for Indonesian citizens who face legal and security problems abroad.
"We use this instrument because we are members of the UN Human Rights Council," he said.
However, Pigai emphasized that the President of the UN Human Rights Council still works independently and is bound by international codes of conduct so that he cannot act subjectively.
"Once he is appointed as President of the UN Human Rights Council, he is independent. The UN has a code of conduct that protects against personal subjectivity," he said.
However, according to Pigai, the government can still utilize the international institutional channel to strengthen protection for Indonesian citizens.
"We also use the UN institutions to provide definite protection for citizens of the Republic of Indonesia, especially the events that occurred in Israel," said Pigai.
Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) had confirmed that nine Indonesian citizens, who participated in the GSF humanitarian convoy to the Gaza Strip, were victims of the kidnapping of Israeli Zionist forces by ambushing their ships.
Among the nine Indonesian citizens who were abducted, three national media journalists who were carrying out journalistic duties, namely Bambang Noroyono and Thoudy Badai from Republika and Andre Prasetyo Nugroho from Tempo.
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